Transesterification of Palm Oil Catalyzed by CaO/SiO2 Prepared from Limestone and Rice Husk Silica

In this study, CaO/SiO2 composites were prepared from rice husk silica (RH-SiO2) and limestone a local company. The with different mass ratios of CaO to SiO2 (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:5, 1:10) synthesized using the sol-gel technique characterized XRF, XRD, SEM. then used as catalysts for transesterification palm oil, main purpose investigate effect catalyst compositions on percentage conversion oil. results XRD SEM confirm existence RH-SiO2 an amorphous material, crystalline while are mixture phases. in experiments oil was calculated. To successful into fatty acid methyl esters, products reactions analyzed GC-MS. experimental demonstrated that exhibit catalytic activity, highest (60%) achieved ratio 1:3.